The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-03
HON. WIN. G. JOHNSON.
HIS SPEECH IN THE HOUSE JAN.
UARY, 18Th.


Tho Hon. William G. Johnson, member
of the house, from Smith county, is an ex-
ceedingly brilliant and talented congress-
man. He is ready debater, forcible and
fearless in speech. He seconded the
nomination of Judge Terrell in the house
Tuesday, and made what is considered by
many to have been the best speech of the
day. He spoke most eloquently as fol-
lows:
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen-The preciousness
OF your time shall be my excuse for proceeding at
once without words of preface to second the nomi-
nation of Judge Terrell whose illustrious name
has just been presented to you for your considera
ton for the high office of United States senator
for Texas Perhaps the most difficult of all our
tasks is now upon us. Let us approach to its dis
charge with the highest and finest convictions of
duty, and the good of our state at heart. If we
shall do this doubt not that he result of our
deliberations will be the will of the people. And
if the choice of our selection should be he whose
name we present. and whose claims are lodged in
the hearts of his countrymen, there will 20 up
from all Texas the glad approval of our conduct
here.
More than a quarter of century ago he came to
Texas, and to the CT in which we are now as
sembled, and Joined his fortunes to that of ours;
and the bright record of his life from that day on
is part of the history of our state. When, but a
youth, and an orphan boy at that, his chosen pro-
fession, the law, laid its hand upon him. and said
"Come, follow me-" And whether as district
judge upon the bench, or as an advocate at the
bar, as state SENATOR or the attorney in
the courts of last resort, he stands the
peer of any, and exhibits the best talent of our
time. Turn through the pages of the statutes,
which lie before GU, and the trace of his master
hand are on its every page Go search the jour
mails of the senate, and the impress of his thought
is there. While chairman of its most important
Committee he inaugurated for the first time
amongst English speaking people the system of
selecting jurors by means OF sworn commissioners,
lQfn nA1 fhn datn lin sNf rl,,
which had 30 long disgraced our state by requir-
ing the jurors to be able to read and write our
mother tongue. Was one of seven in the senate
who would have saved to the people our magnif-
cent domain by voting against the grant of lands
to railroads in 1876. After eight years service in
that body he voluntarily left it, but not until the
asylims for the unfortunate OF our race that crest
the hills around the capital of our state had been
re.built and university and capitol provided for
And during all this time of service no
breath of partisan SANDER ever stained his
career, until he offered himeef for this high office.
But we must remember what another has said:
"Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou
shalt not escape calumny,"
No uncertain or clabbery utterances are hi, upon
the great questions which trouble the public mind;
which, under the criticisms of an ever watchful
press and an anxious people, require to be ex-
planned away. hut wherever his voice has been
raised with such wonderful power upon the ques-
tons of the tariff, national bonds, the coinage Of
silver the regulation Of railways and eternal war
fare upon mOnopolies and perpetuities in Office IS
well in property, it has been in the interests of
true democracy and the cause of the people And
the unceasing warfare which he has waged against
the evils of our time have provoked their antago
nsms and their opposition. For no sooner had he
begun his wonderful canvass in the summer, and
sounded the tocsin of war and pointed out TO an
alarmed people the subtle influences which seek
to control and subvert our American institutions,
than thousand unseen hands began to tap the |
keys and warm the wires and all
the combined powers of accumulated |
millions were turned against him. And alone |
and unaided by the power and patronage which
official position affords, he aspires to office from
the ranks of private life.
1t may be urged aye, it has been urged that
Judge Terrell because of his decided views and the
bold stand which he has taken upon these ques-
tons, will not receive that consideration, nor be
able to obtain for his people the advantages and
firm favors which one of passive politics and
double. barrel views would be able to obtain as if
my countrymen, stood at the door of congress as
beggars and petitioners for the nations charity
Too long already have we been controlled by such
The time has come when we must
have men in congress who will stand forth boldly
and proclaim against the grievous burdens of which
we so righteousy complain. Nature has been
prodigal in her gifts of speech and intellect to this
man, and if we should send him as our represents
tive in The upper house of congress, we can ever
point to his record there as one of honor to him
self and credit to our state.